Illinois determined to win back Braggin' Rights

No. 10 Illini are working to end 3-year losing streak to 12th-ranked Missouri in annual rivalry game

December 22, 2012|By Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune reporter

Missouri celebrates a 78-74 win over Illinois at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. in 2011. (Zia Nizami/Belleville News-Democrat Photo)

Illinois guard D.J. Richardson has not forgotten the way Missouri players ran down the court and celebrated last season.

"Some of their players (acted) like they won the national championship after they won," Richardson said. "Running around the gym, running and yelling."

Richardson and the Illini are working to end a three-year losing streak to the Tigers on Saturday in St. Louis. The Illini seniors have yet to win the Braggin' Rights rivalry game at Scottrade Center even though the Illini hold a 20-11 edge in the series.

No. 10 Illinois (12-0) isn't pretending this game against rival No. 12 Missouri (9-1) is like all their others.

"Oh, man," Richardson said. "We've had a lot of energy in practice. We can't wait. We want to go into this game with a lot of confidence and come in swinging."

They will need to come in reaching as well.

The Tigers rank second nationally in rebounding with 46.1 per game, and that provides a key to the game, Illinois coach John Groce said.

The Illini rank 10th in the Big Ten with a rebounding margin of 3.8.

"The biggest thing is the rebounding," Groce said. "They have talent and they have size. We have to block out well. We have to snatch our fair share."